I mentioned it in a thread over the summer and posted the graphics/chart there, but while LeBron was always popular in jersey sales and all star votes, he wasn’t some ratings monster until he became a villain/joined Miami with another star and (most importantly) played against big market teams like Boston and Chicago.
Even his 2nd stint with CLE, it was his games/series vs GSW and the baby Celtics that ppl tuned in to. Not vs the Hawks or Pacers. Then he went to the Lakers, literally the biggest market outside of New York.
If you see what I’m getting at… he was always popular within the sport, but many circumstantial factors (and machinations) were at play that made the general public tune in more at certain points in his career.
Simple question: If LeBron isn’t box office then please tell me
who is?
The mental gymnastics you dudes do to try and tear this guy down is genuinely hilarious.
Besides MJ who’s the main guy you dudes give folk hero worship on here while slandering Bron? Kobe right? Do you want me to show you what NBA viewership looked like during the supremely short window where Kobe was the face of the league? Because it wasn’t pretty.
Here are some facts:
His MVP year was at that point in time, their worst viewed year in modern history.
He played in the 2008 Finals as the MVP against the Celtics,
2 massive media markets with a storied rivalry, and the numbers were mediocre as fukk, never crossing 15m viewers.
Which is the literal baseline for any LeBron finals excluding Covid and 2007.
Even when he had Shaq, they failed to produce a truly blockbuster NBA Finals.
In fact the only finals Kobe ever played in that did have eye popping numbers was in 2010–and it took the rivalry revenge plotline and 7 games to do it. Literally…the series had just okish viewership until game 7.
Now do you want me to give you a detailed breakdown of LeBron viewership? I don’t think you’re gonna like what you see
Even his 2nd stint with CLE, it was his games/series vs GSW and the baby Celtics that ppl tuned in to. Not vs the Hawks or Pacers. Then he went to the Lakers, literally the biggest market outside of New York.
at this shameless ass shyt in particular that you’re pushing. Go ahead and tell me how the Warriors and Celtics ratings compare with non-LeBron opponents vs LeBron. The 2022 and 2024 finals had GARBAGE ratings. 2019 GSW-Toronto did ok but nowhere close to any of those Cavs series.
at you thinking
they’re the draw and not him.
